25 September 2014: advert for Upostelle tablet
Published 15 October 2014
© Crown copyright 2014
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advertising-investigations-september-2014/25-september-2014-advert-for-upostelle-tablet
A pharmacist complained to MHRA about an advert produced by Gedeon Richter Plc/Consilient Health Ltd for Upostelle 1500 microgram tablets (levonorgestrel). The advert appeared in the Chemist and Druggist on 20 September 2014.
The complainant alleged the advert was misleading as it claimed that Upostelle was an alternative treatment to Levonelle, although the legal status of Levonelle is ‘pharmacy’ whereas Upostelle is a prescription-only medicine (POM). The complainant said this might lead to pharmacists selling Upostelle over the counter to consumers.
MHRA did not uphold the complaint and considered that the advert presented Upostelle as an alternative treatment to the POM product, Levonelle, and not the pharmacy product, Levonelle One Step.